Three ASEAN ministerial meetings opened in the central city of Da Nang on January 14 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem.

The three events include the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, the third ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting and the Special ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting.

At the APSC meeting, the ministers focused their discussions on recent developments in the community’s cooperation and the implementation of a blueprint on building the community.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat discussed directions for ASEAN this year, including furthering efforts to build the ASEAN Community and considerations of reports on the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and on human rights.

The ministers decided to assign the Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity to design a master plan on this issue for submitting to the ASEAN summit which is scheduled to take place in Hanoi , for approval.

Also at the meeting, the ministers discussed ways to secure the leading role of ASEAN in the region and measures to intensify relations between ASEAN and its partners.

In addition, the ministers mulled over the third protocol amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and a document guiding partners to join the treaty./.